Miami Marlins Sign Reliever Mike Wuertz to a Minor League Contract

The Miami Marlins signed reliever Mike Wuertz to a minor league contract that includes an invitation to spring training. This is according to the Twitter feed of The Beverly Hills Sports Council.

Not long ago, Wuertz was an effective reliever for the Chicago Cubs and the Oakland Athletics.

The native of Austin, Minnesota was selected by the Cubs in the 1997 draft. He came up through the club as a starter, but he never made the big leagues after two lackluster seasons starting in Triple-A Iowa. 

A shift to the bullpen changed his fortune. In 2004, he became an effective closer at Iowa and punched a ticket to Wrigley Field. For four-and-a-half seasons, Wuertz was an effect middle reliever for the Cubs.

He posted a solid strikeout per nine innings rate, pitched to an effective ERA and was steadily at a 4-1 K/BB. 

In 2007, he pitched for the Cubs in the division series against the Arizona Diamondbacks. 

Wuertz was traded before the 2009 season to the Oakland Athletics, where he had a solid first season. Ultimately, the A's cut ties with him and he subsequently failed to make the Reds' 2012 roster .

Now removed from the game for an entire season, Wuertz is getting one more shot. It is a low-risk move for the suddenly frugal Marlins.

If he has anything left in his arm, this could be a fine move for the frugal fish,